Band P.E.: What is it?

Although band members undisputably make up a large group on campus, many students have no idea what Marching Band P.E., a sixth-period course designated and required for only band freshmen, involves. 

The class prepares the approximately 50 freshmen for what is required in a marching band competition. 

“At a first glance, the course may seem to be a way for marching band students to escape the rigors of the school’s regular P.E. program for a semester,” sophomore Michelle Handoko, who took Band P.E. as a freshman last year, said. “However, it is not as easy at it sounds.”

According to director Michael Boitz, the class, separate from another normal symphonic band fourth period, is required in order for the freshmen to satisfy their P.E. requirement. Only a few freshmen, who also participate in a sport in addition to band, don’t take the course.

“[Band P.E.] is just like practice for any sport,” Boitz said. “If you shadowed a trumpet player, for example, you would be all sweaty by the end of the competition.”

According to freshman Mary Maccoun, the time during the period is usually split in half. 

“First, we have a P.E. schedule with [P.E. instructor Rick] Ellis similar to one of the normal P.E. class,” Maccoun said. “For the rest of the time, we practice marching techniques with [band director Jonathan] Pwu. Some days, however, the period consists of solely P.E. or of solely marching techniques.”

The P.E. component of the class is just like a normal P.E. class, consisting of warm-ups and a workout or a fitness assessment. 

For the marching band component, the students review and improve marching techniques. These include direction changes, zigzags, circles, backward marching, marching at different speeds and more. These are usually done in a marching block form, in single lines or one by one.

“It’s basically practice makes perfect,” freshman Megan Fung said. “It also trains our upper body strength so we won’t wobble or mess up when we march.” 

Students also learn specific exercises. These are not taught these in normal marching band practice outside of school hours because the experienced band members already know them. For example, the freshmen are trained to keep time by marching in place to a metronome or to move to certain beats during warm-ups.

“The drills over and over do help,” Handoko said. “They build into your muscle memory and train you to be more efficient.”